Eternal India Encyclopedia

Eternal India encyclopedia

Ancient Concepts, Sciences & Systems

Date

Scientific and Technological Developments

Remarks

- Sulba-sutras: beginnings of geometry; anticipation of the Pythagorean theorem; development of the knowledge of the irrational numbers. Early ideas of the Vaisesika; Samkhya and the Mimamsa; of the Bauddha, Jaina and the Carvaka; physical concepts: atomism, space, time, motion and sound.

As aid to construction of sacrifical altars

As part of the respective religio-philoso- -phical position

The Ayurvedic treatises -the Caraka and the Susruta Samhitas: the tridosa theory; physiology; anatomy; pathology; therapeutics; surgical practices.

4th C B.C- 4th C A.D.

Emphasis on herbal medicine; skill in rhinoplasty, laparotomy and lithotomy

sutras; the Jaina, the Bauddha

Development of the orthodox philosophical

Respective epistemological positions ~ defined

schools; extension of the doctrine of five elements, space, time and sound.

The Arthasastra of Kautilya : mining, metal-working, agriculture irrigation.

Bhagavati-sutra; Tattvarthadhigama-sutra. of Umasvati : atomism, class- ification of living and non-living. Recasting of astronomical ideas; adoption of the zodiacal system; knowledge of the motion of planets.

Possibly some Babylonian and Greek influences

Pingala's Chandah-sutra

meruprastrara

Progress in mathematics; permutations and combinations -

and the early binomal ideas.'

Increased and widespread use of iron; construction of the Sudarsana Lake

Use of bellows for extracting and forging iron Foreign influences particularly Roman, at Taxila (Sirkap) and Arikamedu (Tamilnadu)

Glass objects at a number of places.

5th C. A.D.

Nyayabhasya of Vatsyayana -atomic ideas further extended; views on vision and propagation of sound; impetus theory; classification of animals and plants.

Padarthadharmasamgraha of Prasastapada; atomism, space, time, motion, sound.

Also known as Prasastapadabhasya\ though a bhaya on the Vaisesika categories, an independent work

5th C. A.D.

Aryabhatiya : theory of the rotation of the earth, epicyclic theory for the planetary motions; values of pi & sines; alphabetical system of expressing decimal place-value notation; extraction of square and cube roots; indeter- minate equation of the first order

Growth of the Indian decimal place-value system

Metal-working; art of jewellery; Iron Pillar now at Delhi.

Made of wrought iron (99.72%)

Cast in two layers

Copper statue of the Buddha from Sultanganj in Bihar (now in Birmingham Museum)

Sophisticated ceramic ware.

Particularly on the Indo-Gangetic plains

6th C A.D.

Paricasiddhantika of Varahamihira-the five Romaka, Brahma and Paitamaha concept of notion of the libration of the equinoxes in the Suryasiddhanta.

siddhantas: Saura, Paulisa, mahayuga (4,320,000 years);

The Suryasiddhanta considered as the best and the most accurate

Brhat Samhita of Varahamihira- a number of chemical processes; plant and animal classifications.

Encyclopaedic work

Lexicon

Amarkosa : classification and synonyms of plants and animals, minerals and metals.

Buddhist logic and Jaina views.

Problem of matter elucidated

7 th- 8th C A.D.

Brahmagupta- astronomer and mathematician: Brahmasphutasiddhanta and Khandakhadyaka', lemma for solution of the indeterminate equation of the second order; formula for the sum of n terms of Arithmetic progression;

Both translated into Arabic in the eighth cent. A.D., under the titles Sindhind and Arkand

.rules for the volume of a area of the cyclic quadrilateral, etc. Nyaya-vartika of Udyotakara; further elucidation of atomic views